User interface not intuitive in interactive session

[platipodium]

This issue is part of https://github.com/openjournals/joss-reviews/issues/7185

I followed the examples in the Readme to assess the usability of the interface. But to me, it is not usable at all. Overall, it does not follow other known interface conventions, not even very old ones like ncview and that is a problem. As a user testing your examples, I got quickly frustrated by

• work loss
• non-working buttons
• unclear workflow

Some examples

top left

As a user, I expect important content on the top left. But all I get are "view" and "netcdf" buttons that don't do anything if no file is loaded. These buttons are misplaced.

• all buttons that are of no use should be inactive and also visually marked as inactive (greyed out)

File chooser

It is ok to type or paste a file name into the box.

• Better would be the option to open a file system dialog box letting the user choose (or search for) a file.
• The "Go" button is non-semantic. It should say "Open" or "Load" in this context.
• white space is not cleaned surrounding pasted file name

Tools

The Tools square looks too much like a button and I kept hitting it (with frustration as nothing happened)

Transect/Marker/Quit

These look alike and therefore should do something alike. But alas: While Transect and Transect Marker buttons open another menu, the Quit button simply quits. This is confusing

[platipodium]

Transect

• When I am in Transect mode, both "Transect" and "Transect Marker" buttons appear the same. How can the user know where she is in the tool? Very confusing

• transect mode does not do anything whereas Drag mode does. I don't get it

• Edit mode is fine

Transect Marker

• It is not intuitive to finish creating a marker transect with the "New Line" button.
• I could not the the width setting to work.
• Also here another "Go" non-semantic button

Plot

The plot is nice, but: whereas the map is zoomable, the plot is not. This is again inconsistent UI design

[rchartra]

Some of these points have been addressed in the newest version of NcCut 0.4.5:

• Zoomable plot
• Option to use native OS file browser to select a file
• Units are shown for variable when provided by NetCDF file
• New line button for a transect marker has been renamed to New Marker. You can also double click when you draw your last points to finish the marker

Regarding drag mode and transect mode:

• The expected behavior is the following:
  • When you first open a tool, you can drag and zoom but whenever you click, points will be drawn adding to the tool.
  • Selecting drag mode allows you to just drag the image without adding new points.
  • Transect mode closes drag mode, meaning that when you click new points will be drawn and added to the tool
• Can you clarify whether or not you are seeing this behavior, and if so what you find unintuitive about it?

Regarding Marker Width:

• Updating the width will not change previous transects drawn, rather it will set the width for future transects. This is outlined in the documentation and is intentional as it allows for markers with transects of variable width.
• Can you clarify whether or not you are seeing this behavior?

With the remaining issues I see your point, and I'll update the app accordingly.